EDU623 Final Project Google Sites for Education McKee

Running head: Google Sites for Education 1

Google Sites for Education

Scott A. McKee

EDU623 Designing Learning Environments

Linda Kaiser

Post University

Google Sites for Education 2

Introduction

As a 21st century educator finding ways to integrate technology into daily teaching

strategies is becoming more and more important. For this to happen effectively, a great place to

start is by building a teacher website to use as a platform for daily instruction, classroom

management, communication, and collaboration with students, parents, administrators, and the

communities inside and outside of the classroom. By making a classroom available to the

outside world through a website, an educator can tap into and make readily available a wealth of

resources and tools while sharing and storing learning activities, information, and ideas while

creating a showcase for daily and projected classroom activities for all stakeholders to view. The

Google Sites for Education course is designed to provide an easy and effective way for

concerned educators to begin to move into the 21st century of teaching and learning.

Sponsored by Merced County Office of Education’s Career and Alternative Education

Department, this course will be offered in the spring or summer of 2013 as a workshop for

teachers, support staff, and administrators to learn how to build a basic website for the needs of

virtually any educational or instructional need. Participants will learn the basic skills and

knowledge of how to build and maintain a customized website, using Google Sites, through an

extensive series of hands-on activities supported by presentations, guidance, discussion, and

modeling.

This course will be implemented in a one day workshop, which will consist of five hours

of instruction and activities to build a basic customized website and two hours of end-of-course

presentations from each participant to share their website with the rest of the class to provide

opportunity for discussion and feedback. To allow for adequate time for instruction, discussion,

creativity, and presentations the anticipated class size will be 15 or fewer for each session.


Handouts, a PowerPoint presentation, and video media will be provided for each

facilitator. A train-the trainer session will be required for each trainer and assistant trainer before

he or she will be allowed to implement the course. The target population for this course will be

teachers, support staff, and administrators who have an interest in using a customized Google site

for daily educational needs.

Analysis

The Current Situation and Why Training is Needed

The current situation at Valley Community School located in Merced Ca, is an

educational environment for at-risk students who have been expelled from local comprehensive

schools. Over the past few years the school sites have acquired some technologies that if used

effectively will enhance daily instruction, such as; student computers, teacher laptops with

internet access, and Smartboards or other projection devices.

Now that these technologies are in place it is necessary to begin various forms of training

to provide teachers, administrators, counselors, and support staff the knowledge and skills

needed to fully utilize the technology to enhance daily lessons and create a more engaging

educational environment for the students using websites as a platform for various educational

needs. The educational teams at the sites have the basic knowledge and skills to use these

technologies but most do not have a platform, such as a website, to operate, store, and present

information. Training is needed to help these educators create, design, and maintain an internet

based location that can be used as a platform for their daily educational needs.

What type of training is required? The most common and readily available internet

location used as a platform is a website. There are several sources for creating, designing, and

maintaining a website. Of those sources, Google Sites provides a simple and easy tool to build a


website that can be used by educators to build a personalized website for educational purposes.

Educators who elect to take the Google Sites for Education course will be trained to use Google

Sites for these purposes.

How will this training close the instructional gap? With limited options for

instruction, using textbooks and worksheets along with direct instruction is no longer effective

with today’s 21st century learners. According to the U.S. Department of Education (n.d.),

technology ushers in fundamental structural changes that can be integral to achieving significant

improvements in productivity. Used to support both teaching and learning, technology infuses

classrooms with digital learning tools, such as computers and hand held devices; expands course

offerings, experiences, and learning materials; supports learning 24 hours a day, 7 days a week;

builds 21st century skills; increases student engagement and motivation; and accelerates

learning. By integrating technology into daily practices and creating a more student-centered

approach to instructional methods the level of student interest and engagement should increase.

Building and Using a website as a platform provides a foundation for almost all other

technology integrations in daily educational practices by providing a starting point with a wealth

of resources located in one place that can become an efficient way educators, students, and

communities to interact.

Audience and Population Analysis

The audience of this training session will consist of Valley Community School

educators who elect to take the course. The participant’s will have a variety of educational

needs; teachers will build classroom websites, administrators, counselors, and support staff will

build websites to enhance daily educational practices. The prior knowledge related to building

websites is minimal and the participants should be considered beginners.


Learning Environment Analysis

The learning environment will be in a fully equipped computer lab intended for

training purposes at the district office complex located off-site from the school. Each participant

will have a computer with full internet access and all software necessary to complete the training.

The trainer will utilize a Smartboard to deliver a full visual demonstration of the process using a

PowerPoint presentation which will include instructional media to illustrate each step in building

a Google Site.

Task Analysis and Content Mastery

Review of the steps and skills needed. Participants will need to be able to

complete the following tasks in order to achieve mastery of the content delivered through the

training;

1. Using the districts Google Domain, mercedlearn.org, participants will need to

have an assigned username and password to log on to Google Sites.

2. Using Google Sites and following the instruction provided participants will need

to build a website using templates, page edit, and actions menu to create a personalized

functional website for daily use.

3. Once the website is initially set-up, the participants will need to learn to utilize

various actions to customize, update, manage, and maintain the website efficiently with minimal

amount of time on a regular basis .

How will content mastery be determined? At the end of the training session

participants should be able to demonstrate content mastery by achieving all enabling objectives

and the terminal objective by presenting the website to the group in a guided tour and provide

reasons for the layout and design and be able to demonstrate how to manage, add, and delete


content.

Situational Analysis

In order to deliver the training effectively, participants will need to have the time allowed

for the training to take place at an off-site location and be relieved from teaching responsibilities

for one school day. The district computer lab will need to be reserved in advance and substitutes

will need to be scheduled for all teachers the day of training. All participants will need to be

prepared after registration via informational email in advance as to the need and purpose of the

training in order to anticipate and understand the expectations of learning goals and objectives.

It will be essential for the course to demonstrate the ease of use and effectiveness of using a

website as a platform for educational purposes.

Media / Technology Analysis

The district training and computer lab is a state of the art learning environment

which is equipped with thirty individual computers for the participants and the trainer will have

access to a computer for presentation purposes and is attached to a Smartboard for delivery of

content. The lab has full internet access and is supported by a district Wi-Fi network with all

software needed to effectively implement the training.

Design

Schedule for Full Development and Delivery

The full development of the Google Sites for Education course’s analysis, design, and

development elements and formative evaluation will be conducted in conjunction with EDU623

Designing Learning Environments, January 10 – March 2, 2013. The implementation of the

course will be delivered in the spring or summer of 2013 on date still to be determined with

summative evaluation to follow immediately afterward .


Course Outcomes and Objectives

Terminal Objective (TO): Given a computer with internet access and instruction using a

presentation and modeling, the participant in the Google Sites for Education course should be

able to build and maintain a basic Google site using a customized template designed to suit the

needs of their educational purposes. At the end of the course the participant should be able to

present their Google site and describe the process they went through to set up their site and

describe possible ways they can use it for their educational needs.

Enabling Objective 1 (EO1): Given a computer with internet access, domain log-in

information, and instruction, the participant in the Google Sites for Education course should be

able to log-in to their @mercedlearn account and go to Google sites. The participant will

demonstrate this with a successful log-in using their user name and password.

Enabling Objective 2 (EO2): Given a computer with internet access, a brief presentation,

and instruction, the participant in the Google Sites for Education course should be able to select,

create, format, and customize a site template for their website. The participant will demonstrate

this by showing the trainer the customized template they have created and state the basis for their

selection.


and instruction, the participant in the Google Sites for Education course should be able to create

and edit page templates. The participant will demonstrate this by creating three different page

types and home page.


and instruction, the participant in the Google Sites for Education course should be able to

manage the pages they have created on their site. The participant will demonstrate this by


editing each of the four page types with specific changes for their educational needs.


and group exploration the participant in the Google Sites for Education course will be exposed to

a variety of other more advanced options to enhance their site as they become more familiar with

the use and management of their site, these options include; embedded gadgets, media types, and

other app tools. The participant will be exposed to and discuss various options regarding

gadgets, media, and apps and be encouraged to explore usage of options.


and instruction, the participant in the Google Sites for Education course should be able to share,

publish and protect their site. The participant will demonstrate this by sharing their site address

with other participants and observing each other’s sites.


discussion, and trainer led modeling the participant in the Google Sites for Education course will

be exposed to a variety of options to use their site to manage their Google site. The participant

will be exposed to and discuss various ideas of how to use the custom site to manage daily

educational needs.

Learning Theory

The learning theory that will initially support the Google Sites for Education

course is constructivism. Each participant’s knowledge will be constructed by experiences

during the instruction and creative phase in a step-by-step process during the course and then

reinforced at the end of the course in the form of a mini-presentation. Each participant will

develop their own interpretation of the skills and meaning through the experiences of building a

customized website. By discussing, sharing, and collaborating throughout the course each


participant with have an opportunity to develop a schema conducive to building a custom

website. The learning will take place utilizing the same technology that will be needed to

continue developing and maintaining the website after completion of the course. Each

participant will be given the opportunity to reinforce what was learned by sharing and discussing

the customized website with the entire class in a mini-presentation at the end of the course. With

time and repetition through use and maintenance of the site the participants knowledge should

eventually become more embedded and develop into a more cognitive learning mode.

Lesson Structure

According to Robert Gagne (1985), there are nine events that are needed for effective

learning, thus they include a sequence of events similar to the following (with corresponding

cognitive process):

1. Gaining attention (reception) – EO1

2. Informing learners of the objective (expectancy) - EO1

3. Stimulating recall of prior learning (retrieval) – EO1

4. Presenting the stimulus (selective perception) – EO2, EO3, EO4, EO5, EO6, and

EO7

5. Providing learning guidance (semantic encoding) - EO2, EO3, EO4, EO5, EO6,

and EO7

6. Eliciting performance (responding) - EO2, EO3, EO4, EO5, EO6, and EO7

7. Providing feedback (reinforcement) - EO2, EO3, EO4, EO5, EO6, and EO7

8. Assessing performance (retrieval) – Formative = EO2, EO3, EO4, EO5, EO6,

EO7, and Summative = Mini-Presentations to test TO

9. Enhancing retention and transfer (generalization) – Continued regular use after


end-of-course.

The content of the Google Sites for Education course is arranged in a specific set of steps

that creates a logical flow from one topic to the next, whereas, each step builds off the one before

it and allows the participant to build and customize an effective basic website that can

immediately be used for the participants needs. The participant will also learn the basic skills

needed to continue to add, edit, and modify content on a regular basis to maintain the Google site

to meet the evolving needs of the educator. The sequence of course content phases is:

1. EO1 – Introduction to Google Sites

2. EO2 – Create, Format, and Customize a Site

3. EO3 – Choose Page Types

4. EO4 – Manage Pages

5. EO5 – Gadgets, Media, and App Tools

6. EO6 – Share, Publish, and Protect

7. EO7 – Use Site to Manage Educational Needs

In the process of learning each phase of the course content, the participant will be

actively involved through extensive hands-on activities supported by presentation, instruction,

demonstration, guidance, and handouts.

Assessment

Formative assessment will occur as an on-going process as each participant successfully

accomplishes each enabling objective through observation by the trainer as they provide

guidance and assistance. Summative assessment of the terminal objective will occur during the

end-of-course mini-presentations given by each participant. After the course is completed the

trainer observation feedback and participant survey data will be used to evaluate the


effectiveness of the course by the instructional designer. If necessary, the instructional designer

will revise the course design as needed for future sessions.

Media Specifications

The Google Sites for Education course will take place in a fully equipped computer

laboratory at the Merced County Office of Education district office. Each participant will be

using a network computer with full internet access and all software necessary to successfully

complete the course. The facilitator will employ the use of a network computer that has full

internet access, all necessary software, and SmartBoard to deliver the presentation through

PowerPoint, with video and audio, and demonstration by modeling how to build a functional

Google site through each phase of the course content.

The content of the course will be delivered using a variety of methods. Through a mix of

PowerPoint enhanced lecture presentation with group discussion and hands-on activities that will

be reinforced by peer and trainer feedback, each participant will be exposed to a variety of

instructional methods that address all learning modalities. According to Breaux and Magee,

(2010), students learn differently. Some are more visual than auditory; most are kinesthetic in

that they learn by doing (as we do in life in general); some need extended time to grasp concepts

fully; some prefer a quiet, still atmosphere, while others are more open-minded when in motion

(p. 4). The effective use of PowerPoint lecture/presentation supports Mayer’s Cognitive Theory

of Multimedia Learn. 1. There are two separate channels (auditory and visual) for processing

information (sometimes referred to as Dual-Coding theory), 2. Each channel has a limited (finite)

capacity (similar to Sweller’s notion of Cognitive Load) and, 3. Learning is an active process of

filtering, selecting, organizing, and integrating information based upon prior knowledge.

PowerPoint lecture/presentation when combined with group discussion, facilitator guidance, and


modeling should create a well-balanced form of differentiated instruction that addresses all

participants learning needs.

Development

The development phase for Google Sites for Education is presented in the form of

PowerPoint storyboards on a separate attachment using the provided outline of requirements and

the supplemental documentation write up that follows.

Supplemental Documentation

Each participant will be given a course agenda, course flow chart with objectives, and

web address for Google Training Module 5: Sites, to be used as a user’s guide during and after

the course as a resource and step-by-step guidelines. This course’s PowerPoint presentation and

instructional videos will also be made available on the mercedlearn.org domain for future

reference. The participants will also be informed that the will have ongoing support, as needed

by the CAE Technology coaches and will be provided all necessary contact information.

Course Agenda

The course agenda will have a detailed timeline of events and course of study. The

participants will meet at 8:00am till 8:30am for coffee, juice, and bagels for a meet and greet.

The morning session will go from 8:30am till 12:00pm, and will cover enabling objectives 1-4.

MCOE/CAE will provide lunch on site for facilitators and participants to collaborate from

12:00pm till 12:45. After lunch enabling objectives 5-7 will be covered and participants will

have over an hour before end-of-course presentations start at 2:00pm till 3:00. Facilitators and

participants will have between 3:00pm and 3:30pm for any last minutes needs or questions.

Course Flowchart

The course flowchart will illustrate the course of study, course enabling and terminal


objectives, and activities for each phase of the course.

Google Training Module 5: Sites

Google Apps certified training program has a website with a variety of module to help

potential applicants to prepare to become a certified trainer for Google Apps. These modules are

a great resource for learning the various Google Apps that can be used for education as well as

other needs. Each participant will be provided the web address and shown how to use this

website as a resource for the course and afterward for the participant to use to update and

maintain the Google site.

Course PowerPoint with Embedded Instructional Videos

The PowerPoint presentation used in this course will be made available on the

mercedlearn.org domain for participants and others to view and use as a resource as needed for

refreshers or reminders. Each participant will be given the web address.

CAE Technology Coaches

MCOE’s Career and Alternative Education (CAE) Department has a trained group of

experienced educators who are made available via in person, telephone, text, chat, or email to

help educators in the department. Participants will be given the contact information for the CAE

Technology Coaches’ Website to get help as needed.

Implementation

The Google Sites for Education course will be offered as a one day workshop by

MCOE’s CAE Technology Coaches in the spring or summer of 2013. The workshop will take in

one of MCOE’s fully equipped computer lab facilities. The training will be delivered by two of

the CAE Technology Coaches and will be able to accommodate up to 15 participants per session.

The CAE Technology Coaches who are chosen to be trainers will participate in a train-the-trainer


session to be given by the instructional designer, Scott A. McKee. This session will be

conducted at a date to be determined before the implementation of the course in the spring or

summer of 2013. During the course each participant will be provided supplemental documents

and resources, computer, full internet access, and all software necessary to successfully complete

the course. This course will be a face-to-face training and will also have an eLearning

component that will be made accessible after the initial session on the CAE Technology Coaches

Website.

Evaluation

Level 1: Reaction

I would use a level 1 evaluation at the end-of-course before each participant leaves the

training session. This form of evaluation is often called a “smile sheet”. The immediate feedback

from each participant may be of value if it is honest. In my experience as a participant I realize

that by the end of training often participants are ready to go and just want to go through the

motions if time has ran out. If this evaluation is going to have a chance at being of any value it

has to be done at least 10 minutes before the time is up and should be brief and to the point. I

would also prefer it to be anonymous or name optional so the participants feel they can express

themselves without any repercussions. This information would be reviewed as part of the

summative evaluation with all other evaluation data.

Level 2: Learning

Level 2 evaluation of learning would require a thorough review of each participant and

the success achieved for each enabling objective and most importantly the terminal objective of

the training. Through the course of Google Sites for Education training each participant will be

observed and monitored each phase of training to insure they are able to achieve each enabling


objective. If needed the assistant facilitator will spend extra time with participants who need

assistance to experience success. At the end-of-course mini-presentations, each participant will

be expected to present their Google site to the class and engage in discussion as to their

experience, the development, maintenance, and potential uses for their Google site with regards

to their needs as an educator.

After the training is complete the facilitator will have some observed and collected data

regarding the initial impact and effectiveness of the course to report back to the instructional

designer. The instructional designer will use this feedback along with Kirkpatrick’s Level 3

(behavior) and Level 4 (results) evaluations, if applicable, to determine if any revisions or

redesigns are necessary for future implementations of Google Sites for Education.

Conclusion

The Google Sites for Education course is intended to assist educators to begin using

technology for educational and instruction purposes. By building a basic Google site, educators

will have a platform to move into the 21st century of teaching and learning and create an on-line

showcase to share, store, communicate, and collaborate with students, parents, administrators,

and the world beyond the school.

EDU623 Final Project Showcase

• EduDigitalTeacher.com:

http://edudigitalteacher.com/welcome/edu623-final-project-google-sites-for-

education

http://edudigitalteacher.com/welcome/edu623-final-project-google-sites-for-education

http://edudigitalteacher.com/welcome/edu623-final-project-google-sites-for-education


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Documents

EDU623 Final Project Google Sites for Education McKee